Some people in the Pentagon and the industry wonder if the F-35 will be the last manned fighter the U.S. will ever build. I don’t think it will come to that, but they say to watch UCAVs [unmanned combat aerial vehicles, or killer drones] and the possibility for deploying a UCAV/manned combination (1 plane, 1 or more UCAVs).
This could have real merit. The backseater would fly a companion aircraft. That would increase the deliverable payload per sortie and give the manned craft the option of letting the UCAV do things that seemed unacceptably risky. You can think of other scenarios where this could be handy. It’s a step beyond the idea of UCAV as a more capable UAV, operated by someone on the ground far away.
The technology is not there yet, but better UAV’s (that automate more of the routine tasks for flying that pilots do almost without thinking) and code from gaming software make this a possibility. Think of it not as independent flying robots but a new kind of forward air control (and the military implications of game technology deserve its own entry).
The other question is whether UCAV programs can recover from the summer movie “Stealth,” which has gotten a number of terrible reviews. Ive only seen the trailers, so I cant say. The picture [a Photoshop special — ed.] is from DARPA, by the way, and makes it look like some of these programs are pretty far along.
UCAV — Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle
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The UCAV’s color, lighting, and shadow look a little weird to me. Photoshop/CG? Paranoia?
That’s definatly one of the standard “photoshop the new wizz-bang highech weapon we want to build into an existing scene” that Darpa and many defense contractors know and love.
However, what I keep coming back to is what happens with cheap UCAVs? Something much smaller, cheaper, and disposable compared with the dream-planes of DARPA.
EG, something with a 6′ wingspan, made out of fiberglass, with a motorcycle engine, some low-class stealthing, a .50 caliber gun, cameras, (and as much processing power as an F22)? That’s mostly designer skill and the ability to buy a few important commodity parts (FPGAs, cameras, a good engine design), but definatly something which China or India could easily do.
If I remember correctly, the software to enable a pilot to corridinate and control multiple UAV’s already exists. Before the they cancelled the program, the Comanche helocopter was suppossed to have the capability to control multiple UAV’s
Not going to be able to mount a 50 cal in a plane with a 6′ wingspan unless its a big azz rocket..
Cheap UAV’s are already being used by the minutemen border guards aren’t they? I think Noah has blogged this before. using radioshack components and simple GPS any enthusiast can put something up there.
Adam: You’re not paranoid. That’s the magic of CG at work. And they really are out to get you.
Anyone see the movie stealth? The plot was terrible, but the concept and cg were cool.
we all know taht ucavs reguire HAHE (high altitude high endurance); at the battlefield not only every country has a advanced air defense but only they do cant detect ucavs coz of their stealth ability, to hunt down a ucav u simply need to detect it at first then hit it by the laser beam ; does anyone have such a tech? simply no. patriot2s and russian tapestrys , stingers or russian S series cant match such PEGASUS ucav or one of the X series
so gentleem my motto is;
GO DARPA GO
The UCAV is going the wrong way on the flight deck for the photo. They are at recovery stations which you can tell by the person staying behind the foul line. If it were taxying back aft, there would be people in the Landing Area. Just sayin, lol ;)